Despite recent issues with the Chevrolet Volt's battery, GM expects increased Volt sales for November and a recent survey found that Volt customers are satisfied. A GOP lawmaker may, however, ruin EV success by fighting the $7,500 tax credit

General Motors Co. may have hit a few speed bumps this year with the Chevrolet Volt extended-range EV's battery-related incidents, but things seem to be looking up with an expected increase in November Volt sales and a recent survey that confirmed Volt customer satisfaction.

The Chevrolet Volt had its best-ever sales month in October 2011, but according to GM Spokesman Jim Cain, November Volt sales are expected to surpass the previous month.

In October, GM sold 1,108 Volts, which was the first time it had outsold the Nissan Leaf EV since April. For the year through October, GM sold a total of 5,003 Volts.

Experts say that it is now very unlikely that GM will meet its sales goal of 10,000 Volts sold in 2011, but GM predicts increased sales in November over the month of October. The final sales figures for November have not yet been released.

Perhaps the reason for increased sales expectations is Volt customer satisfaction. According to a recent survey by Consumer Reports, Chevrolet Volt owners "love their cars."

The Consumer Reports survey, which was released Thursday, is based on over 314,000 opinions of 2009-2012 model year vehicles. The survey found that 93 percent of Volt owners who participated said they'd buy the EV again.

However, the survey was conducted only a few months after the Volt hit showrooms, and mainly consisted of early buyers and enthusiasts. The survey was also taken before the formal investigation of Volt/lithium battery safety began.

Earlier this year, the Volt underwent a series of tests at a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) facility in Wisconsin. Three weeks after a side-impact crash test on May 12, the Volt went up in flames while parked at the facility, catching nearby vehicles on fire.

This sparked a NHTSA investigation, where three more Volts were tested November 16, 17 and 18. One battery had normal results while another emitted sparks and smoke, and the third caught on fire one week later. The NHTSA is now conducting a formal investigation of the vehicle's safety.

The Volt may be seeing the upside of a nasty situation for now with a potential sales increase and customer satisfaction, but one GOP lawmaker is looking to throw a wrench in the EV industry's success by fighting the $7,500 tax credit.

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) told Congress Wednesday that he wants the $7,500 tax credit for EVs to cease because he says electric vehicles have not met desired goals and the tax credit only benefits the wealthy. He specifically noted that the annual income of Volt owners is $175,000.

"[The Volt] has become the poster child of President Obama's failed green agenda," said Kelly. "Like many green initiatives promoted by this administration and bankrolled by the American taxpayer, the electric car is better in theory than in practice; has limited consumer demand; is heavily subsidized; and has fallen short of reaching targeted goals. Despite the fact that the federal government has no business subsidizing a product that a manufacturer could just as easily promote through rebates and other buyer incentives, the tax subsidies are largely going to the affluent few who can actually afford to buy an electric car, which costs anywhere between $40,000 and $97,000."

Kelly's "like many other green initiatives promoted by this administration" comment was more than likely referring to this year's Solyndra disaster, where the U.S. government loaned solar panel company Solyndra $535 million in 2009 despite warnings that the company would go bankrupt. Solyndra filed for bankruptcy on September 6, 2011.

2) The "rich" pay 70% of all the taxes (that's the top 25% for you Obama voters). The bottom 50% of income earners pay ZERO .

Another lie. Poor people pay less in payroll taxes because they has less pay. Makes sense. However, they pay the same amount in other taxes as anyone else.

3) Corporate America's taxes are amongst the highest in the nation. And they do get tax breaks for things like offering non-Constitutionally mandated benefits like maternity leave, continuing education, health care plans, life insurance plans, worker's comp, and retirement plans (ie: they don't HAVE to offer those benefits).

quote: Poor people pay less in payroll taxes because they has less pay.

The typical response of you liberal Dems. Payroll taxes are not IRS income taxes. They are taxes for future BENEFITS (most of which are about broke like SS, Medicare, and Medicaid). And the other consumption-based taxes like gas taxes, food taxes, booze taxes, cigarette taxes are irrelevant when talking about "tax breaks for the rich" that you people keep bringing up.

We get tax breaks from the IRS, not the local gas station and liquor store. If you find it unfair that a higher % of someone's payroll tax with 6% of income going to SS is unfair, then lobby your representatives to introduce a bill lowering that rate based on income. Ditto for all the other consumption-based taxes.

top 20% of income earners own 85% of the wealth in America. So the fact that they pay 88% of income taxes seems fair. But they do not pay 88% of all taxes which is unfair. I'm easily one of them in the top bracket. I don't whine and moan because I know I have it better than most.

The Tax Foundation reports AGI numbers, not actual taxable amounts. Schedule A is on page 2, AGI is on the bottom pf page 1, and the taxable amount occurs after subtracting the amount on the bottom of Schedule A. Now why do they do that? Because the truth would hurt their claims?

Of course they always overlook the individuals who have the largest numbers on Schedule D and where the tax tables get adjust downward accordingly. And who has the largest numbers on Schedule D? Would just happen to be the rich? You tell us.

quote: The Tax Foundation's annual study that calculate Tax Freedom Days in the United States has been criticized by other think tanks, such as the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)[25] and Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ),[26] citing repeated "methodological errors" and "reliance on early projections without hard data." CBPP has also criticized other reports by the Tax Foundation,[27][28][29][30][31] and in turn the Tax Foundation has responded or criticized CBPP reports.[32][33][34][35][36] The two groups have some areas of agreement, such as opposition to most tax expenditures[37] and sales tax holidays.

quote: In 2008, Paul Krugman wrote in his New York Times blog that the Tax Foundation was "not a reliable source" in response to a report by the Tax Foundation comparing corporate tax rates in the United States to those in other countries.[40] In 2011, Krugman accused the Tax Foundation of "deliberate fraud" in connection with a report it issued concerning the American Jobs Act.

A "think tank" is double speak for a propaganda outfit, regardless of party. But hey the emperor's loyal subject continue to insist they see his new clothes.

Typical of someone like you; I point out hard facts and straight numbers to you. What do you respond with ? An opinion piece. LOL

The typical response of you liberal Dems. Payroll taxes are not IRS income taxes. They are taxes for future BENEFITS (most of which are about broke like SS, Medicare, and Medicaid). And the other consumption-based taxes like gas taxes, food taxes, booze taxes, cigarette taxes are irrelevant when talking about "tax breaks for the rich" that you people keep bringing up.

What the hell are you talking about? Payroll taxes are simply those taxes that employers are required to withhold; this includes income taxes. Funny NOW how republicans are trying to block tax cuts for middle class workers.

Not as a percentage of GDP:

Irrelevant. We're talking about tax RATES and you know it. This is typical people like you to pull nonsense from you @ss when you can't refute the point, itself. If I own a company, I don't care how my tax rate relates to GDP; all I care about is the rate at which I'm being taxed.